Sanitary drinking fountain



Au 26, 19 1;: E. ARNESO-N 2 2 3 60 SANITARY DRINKING FOUNTAIN Filed July15, 1939 INVENTOR sT'fi/VLE Y E HZNEJM oRNE rs Patented Aug. 26, 1941.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I 2,253,600 SANITARY DRINKING FO NTAINStanley E. Arneson, Milwaukee, Wis.- Application July 15, 1939, SerialNo 284,726

' 2 Claims. (01. 299-15).

My invention relates to improvements in sanitary drinking fountains,

The object of my inventionis to provide a fountain peculiarly adaptedfor use on playgrounds and in public schools. and other ,places wherethere is danger of injuryto the teeth of those who use the fountain ifbubbler heads are employed which are composed of metal, porcelain orother hard materialexposed for contact with the teeth of personsdrinking at the fountain.

It is my object to provide a sanitary bubbler head either composed ofrubber or equivalent non-metallic, compressible material or comprisingthe combination with an ordinary porcelain or metal head of adistensible covering ofrubber or equivalent material. I

My primary object is to prevent injury to the teeth if the persondrinking at the bubbler is jostled or jolted or if an attempt is made tograsp the bubbler head between the teeth.

A further object is to provide means whereby any ordinary bubbler headin commercial use may be equipped with a non-metallic, yielding andself-cleaning covering adapted to protect teeth from injury and alsoadapted to be frequently replaced when damaged.

As a dentist, I have had frequent occasion to repair childrens teethwhich have been broken or damaged by forcible contact with a rigidbubbler head, such damage frequently occurring when the person drinkingat the bubbler is jostled by other children or has his head suddenlypressed downwardly by a mischievous person.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an ordinary bubbler head for adrinking fountain to which my invention has been applied, the elasticcovering being shown in a partially distended position similar to thatoccupied when under sufficient water pressure to project a drinkingfountain jet.

Fig. 2 is a view of the same as it appears when the water is shut off,said view being taken at right angles to that of Fig. 1 and the upperportion of the bubbler head being shown in vertical section.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the bubbler head shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail view in vertical section showing a slightly modifiedbubbler head.

Fig. 5 is a vertical, sectional view of a bubbler head having allportions above its inlet fully composed of rubber and adapted to beprojected by water pressure from a position of non-useto a jetdelivering position.

Like parts are identified by the same referencecharacters throughout theseveral views.

In Figs. 1 and 2, I have illustrated an ordinary bubbler head 10 ofporcelain or equivalent rigid material having its bottom portionconnected with atubular coupling I I to which water may be delivered tothe head in the usual manner. The head ,ID has convergent nozzleapertures l2 in its top portion and a drainage aperture 13 in its bottomportion near the point of connection with the coupling I I. These partsmay be assumed to be of ordinary construction and require no furtherdescription. n A bulbous, outer covering l5 of rubber or equivalentmaterial isadapted to be adjusted over thehead ID to .the. positionillustrated in Figs. 1

' and 2., This covering I5 has .a neck portion l1 slotted at one side,preferably opposite the drain opening I3, as indicated at l8, and meansare preferably providedior contracting a neck portion about the neckportion of thehead I0. I preferably provide the cover,.l5 with outwardlyprojecting bosses 20 preferably formed of rubber having a bolt 2|embedded therein. "As shown in Fig. 2, I prefer to embed the head of thebolt in one of the bosses as indicated at 22. The bolt extends throughthe end of the boss and is provided with a clamping nut 23 whereby theneck portion of the covering may be securely clamped to the head II]which it covers.

The covering I5 is provided with one or more apertures 25 in its topportion through which a jet may be projected when a water supply isbeing delivered to the bubbler head. The openings 25 may have a somewhatless capacity than the openings 12 in the bubbler head l0, whereby thewater pressure may be utilized to distend the covering and separate itfrom the head while water is being projected. In Fig. 1, I haveillustrated an initial extension of the covering l5 as only the topportion of the covering has separated from the head 15. The degree ofdistention is not material. Since a pressure continues to accumulatebetween the covering l5 and the head Ill, the water will eventually findits escape through the slot l8. Elasticity of the covering will, ofcourse, determine the degree of pressure maintainable in the space 21.

In Figs. 1 and 2, I have illustrated a form of construction in which theapertures 25 in the covering l 5 are out of line with the apertures l2under a rigid, or relatively rigid, interior head I0. Therefore, eddycurrents are set up in the space 21 as soon as the covering is distendedand the force of the jet or jets to be delivered through any one of theopenings 25 will be modified. Also, Where a plurality of jet openings 25are provided, the jets may be delivered with a churning efiect whichfacilitates mingling the jets in a common projected stream.

However, if desired, the head l may be provided with jet apertures l2which register directly with jet apertures 25a in the covering I5a inwhich event the projected stream will be substantially identical incharacter with that delivered from the bubbler head with the cap l5aremoved.

Also, in this construction the jet apertures I2 may be of the samediameter as the jet apertures 25a and the rubber covering lSa-mayconform to the contour of the head I0 under all conditions of use.

In Fig. 5, I have illustrated a modification in which a bubbler head bcomposed wholly of rubber or equivalent material may be used as areplacement for the rigid head. i 0. In this construction, the jetnozzles b may be substantially identical with the nozzle apertures. 25illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, but the bottom portion of the head [51)may be provided with an aperture [3b corresponding functionally with theaperture l3 shown in Fig. 1. The bottom portion of the head is providedwith an aperture to receive the ported fitting having a head portion 3|.between which and a clamping nut 32, the margin of the head [5b may beclamped. The nut 32 has a shank portion provided with an internal thread33 which may be screwed to an external thread on the fitting 30. Thefitting 30 may be connected with a supply pipe 34 in 'any suitablemanner, said supply pipe being illustrated as threaded into the fitting.

In the form of construction illustrated in Fig. 5, the head l5b may becollapsed in part by dominant pressure upon its top surface, the sidesbeing correspondingly expanded as indicated by dotted lines in saidfigure.

Also, if desired, thenormal position and contour of this bubbler headmay be that indicated by dotted lines, the head being projecting andcaused to assume a circular form when water under pressure is deliveredthereto.

It will, of course, be understood that the form of bubbler hereillustrated in Fig. 5 may be completely replaceable by unscrewing thefitting 3!] from the supply pipe, whereas in the other views, thecoverings l5 or I5a may be removed by unscrewing the nut 23 andwithdrawing the covering I5 from the rigid bubbler head which itencloses. Where rigid bubbler heads are employed, they may be used in anordinary manner when the coverings are removed.

It is not material to the invention herein claimed whether the jetnozzle apertures extend upwardly or laterally or whether a single jetaperture is employed or a plurality of apertures adapted to providemultiple outlets commingling or otherwise. Sulch structuralmodifications are common in the art and the use of my invention need notchange the practice in these particulars.

I claim:

1. The combination with a rigid perforated bubbler head of a yieldingdistensible covering therefornormally contiguous thereto and providedwith .jet apertures in its top portion, said rigid bubbler head beingalso provided with jet apertures out of line with those in the coveringportion whereby on application of. water pressure tothe hollow bubblerhead to press the covering away from said head and permit escape ofwater through the covering.

2. In a drinking fountain bubbler head, the combination with a rigidnozzle adapted to be connected to a source of water under pressure, of abulb-like non-form-sustainingmember enclosing said nozzle, said memberhaving a portion in sealing engagement with the base of the nozzle and aportion adapted to extend substantially above the nozzle when distended,said last mentionedportion being provided with apertures of such size asto allow a water pressure build-up within the member during use, wherebythe Water therein provides cushioning means to protect a user fromcontact with said rigid nozzle.

STANLEY E. ARNESON.

